Describes the results of a literature survey on recent developments in national information policies in the area of universal access that tries to ensure equal access to information, and considers the digital divide. Highlights include policies in Australia, Canada, the European Union, Hong Kong, the United States, and Okinawa. (Contains 64…

Provides an overview of national information policy and analyzes fundamental concepts in information policy. Concludes that though there is confusion about the meaning of concepts, there are frameworks in information and information policies studies that can provide input for development of information policy. Describes frameworks and how they can…

Discusses the development a national information policy in the United Kingdom (UK): policies for national information infrastructures, electronic information services, privacy and data protection, copyright, public and national libraries; reviews problems inhibiting Internet use; compares the UK's and the European Commission's approaches to…

This article, second in a series analyzing information policy as a field of scholarship, compares research in information policy with output in policy studies. Concludes that there are gaps in areas where value- and paradigm-critical approaches could have impact. Argues for extending the range of research paradigms to strengthen the intellectual…

Examines legal issues important to the library and information sector of the European Union. Discusses European Commission directives on length of copyright term, software, renting and lending, and database copyright. Reports on the Magill case on copyright in, and abuse of dominant position by, the copyright owners of television listings.…

Explores the extent of information technology (IT) adoption in Hong Kong, the perceived benefits of IT, and the problems encountered in adopting IT, based on a postal survey of 116 companies. Topics include government policy, previous studies, annual expenditures on IT, IT personnel, IT applications, software used, and problems. (Author/LRW)

Discusses regulating access to the Internet and describes the results of a related two-part survey. Focuses on accessibility of World Wide Web sites that contain offensive materials and reports on measures by British universities to control access by staff and students. A list of possibly offensive newsgroups is appended. (Author/JKP)

Considers the need for a systematic and critical approach to the academic study of information policy at national and international levels. Reviews the nature of large-scale information policy problems and considers some of the main sources of confusion in the journal literature. Proposes characteristics for the design of information policy…

Discusses the future of information policies, focusing on information requirements and constraints; problems of a rapidly changing society for policy formation; European and global political concerns; and cultural, economic, and research environments. (Author/AEF)

Analyzes British information policy using a matrix identifying industrial, organizational, and social levels of policy, and cross-cutting themes: information technology, information markets, human resources, and legislation and regulation. Argues that though Britain's various initiatives add up to a national strategy, it lacks coordination and…